Terlinguaite

Terlinguaite
Terlinguaite, collected from Mariposa Mine, Terlingua District, Brewster County, Texas, United States
General
CategoryHalide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Hg2ClO
IMA symbolTlg[1]
Strunz classification3.DD.20
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupC2/c
Unit cella = 19.51 Å, b = 5.91 Å
c = 9.47 Å; β = 143.81°; Z = 4
Identification
ColorSulfur-yellow, greenish yellow, brown
Crystal habitAggregates of equant to elongated crystals, powdery, massive
CleavagePerfect on [101]
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness2.5
LusterBrilliant adamantine
StreakLemon-yellow, turning olive-green
DiaphaneityTransparent to translucent
Specific gravity9.22
Optical propertiesBiaxial (-)
Refractive indexnα = 2.350 nβ = 2.640 nγ = 2.660
Birefringenceδ = 0.310
PleochroismWeak, green and yellow
2V angleMeasured: 20°
Alters toturns olive-green on exposure to light
References[2][3][4]

Terlinguaite is the naturally occurring mineral with formula Hg2ClO. It is formed by the weathering of other mercury-containing minerals. It was discovered in 1900 in the Terlingua District of Brewster County, Texas, for which it is named.[5] Its color is yellow, greenish yellow, brown, or olive green.

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ Handbook of Mineralogy
  3. ^ Mindat.org
  4. ^ Webmineral data
  5. ^ Hillebrand, W. F.; Schaller, W. T. (1907). "Art. XXVI. "The Mercury Minerals from Terlingua, Texas: Kleinite, Terlinguaite, Eglestonite, Montroydite, Calomel, Mercury"". The American Journal of Science. s4-24 (139): 259–274. doi:10.2475/ajs.s4-24.141.259. Retrieved 2009-05-21.